“I did okay copying you at dinner. Get me the same. Please.”
“You got it. I’ll get you a large to alleviate some of my guilt from assaulting you then letting you buy me dinner.”
“You didn’t assault me. And I enjoyed your company at dinner. You were a very pleasant distraction.”
A blush stained her cheeks as she dropped her gaze to the checkered floor. I stayed behind her as she gave our order and dug into her purse. I caught the barista giving her a once-over as he filled our cups, glancing over his shoulder a few times as he fiddled with the steamed milk.
“Here you go,” he said, smiling wide until he caught my gaze over her shoulder. I had no claim to Rachel, other than being a very new acquaintance, and I most likely would never see her again after tonight, but I took a half step closer and leveled him with a glare sinister enough to make him dart his eyes away.
I wasn’t sure if she noticed my reaction or his, but I felt a satisfaction that made no sense when he sputtered out a have a good day and didn’t give her a second glance.
“Here you go,” Rachel said, the corner of her mouth tipping up as she handed me my paper cup. “Wouldn’t want you to scare another barista.”
I had to laugh. “You caught that?”
“He’s usually a little flirty when I come here, but something over my shoulder shut him down today.” She eyed me as she took a sip from her cup. “I’m assuming it was the big guy behind me, unless there was something by the door I didn’t notice.”
She pursed her lips and handed me a couple of napkins.
“He’s very harmless.” She shook her head as she stepped closer to the door. “Not that the alpha thing or whatever you were doing behind me wasn’t cute, but I can handle myself.”
“I’m sure you can,” I said, taking the cup and holding her eyes as I took a long sip. The entire night had been like that. Lingering, charged stares with moments of silence, but notawkward. In fact, our entire time together had been so easy, it felt like I’d known her for much more than a night.
“Then, what was the death glare or whatever you were doing behind me for?” She narrowed her eyes as she took a half step closer.
“I didn’t want anyone intruding on the hour or so I have left with you. You can scare him off yourself next time.” I reached behind her, still holding her gaze as my chest grazed hers for a second, close and long enough to catch her soft gasp.
“After you,” I said as I pushed the door open.
“We can find a bench and sit for a while. Are you cold?” She motioned to me. “You only have that thin jacket?”
“I’m fine. Lead the way.” I raised my cup toward the Williamsburg Bridge in the distance.
I’d played through all kinds of weather, especially at the beginning of the season and throughout the play-offs when the weather would turn frigid, depending on where we were playing. I’d keep moving during a game to ward off the cold, but tonight, the gorgeous woman next to me was keeping me warm.
And I needed to stop contemplating all the different ways I could heat her up. She wasn’t like the women I’d met after a game those few times after my divorce. They were okay with only one night since that’s what they’d wanted too, and I didn’t have to worry about either of us expecting more than that.
I had no idea what Rachel would want, but I had a nagging feeling I’d want more than one time since I was already making excuses not to tell her goodnight.
And that wasn’t possible.
“What is your new job going to be? I’m assuming it’s a big executive-type position,” Rachel said, holding up her hand. “You don’t have to say specifics if you don’t want, but just a feeling.”
“What makes you think that?” I asked as I settled next to her. “I give off an executive vibe?”
Her gaze traveled up and down my torso before she met my eyes with a smirk.
“You look dressed for the part, yes. Am I right?”
I had to laugh. “I don’t know if I’d call it executive, but it’s a big role. They’re all so happy to have me on board, which is good and bad.”
“Bad?” She crinkled her nose at me as she rested her cup on her thigh. “I’d think that would be a good thing if they’re excited to have you.”
“This job is new. I mean, it’s not all that different from what I was doing before, but enough to feel like I have to learn what the hell I’m doing once I’m there. All the travel is the same, but it’s not like I have anyone else to worry about at home.”
I shrugged as I let my gaze float over the ripples along the water. The sky was a dark blue behind the buildings, and the lights twinkling on the bridge reflecting off the East River made me feel very small in this big city, despite the spotlight that would be over my head starting tomorrow morning.
That feeling was why I didn’t want to tell Rachel exactly what my job was, yet I’d told her more about what I thought about it than I had to friends and family. It was something I felt I couldn’t share with anyone close to me or let show with my new team.
